Chapter 80—In Joseph’s Tomb
At last Jesus was at rest. The long day of shame and torture was
ended. As the last rays of the setting sun ushered in the Sabbath, the
Son of God lay in quietude in Joseph’s tomb. His work completed,
His hands folded in peace, He rested through the sacred hours of the
Sabbath day.
In the beginning the Father and the Son had rested upon the Sabbath
after Their work of creation. When “the heavens and the earth were
finished, and all the host of them” (
Genesis 2:1
), the Creator and all
heavenly beings rejoiced in contemplation of the glorious scene. “The
morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”
Job 38:7
. Now Jesus rested from the work of redemption; and though
there was grief among those who loved Him on earth, yet there was joy
in heaven. Glorious to the eyes of heavenly beings was the promise of
the future. A restored creation, a redeemed race, that having conquered
sin could never fall,—this, the result to flow from Christ’s completed
work, God and angels saw. With this scene the day upon which Jesus
rested is forever linked. For “His work is perfect;” and “whatsoever
God doeth, it shall be forever.”
Deuteronomy 32:4
;
Ecclesiastes 3:14
.
When there shall be a “restitution of all things, which God hath spoken
by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (
Acts
3:21
), the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in
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Joseph’s tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven and
earth will unite in praise, as “from one Sabbath to another” (
Isaiah
66:23
) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and
the Lamb.
In the closing events of the crucifixion day, fresh evidence was
given of the fulfillment of prophecy, and new witness borne to Christ’s
divinity. When the darkness had lifted from the cross, and the Saviour’s
dying cry had been uttered, immediately another voice was heard,
saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
Matthew 27:54
.
These words were said in no whispered tones. All eyes were turned
to see whence they came. Who had spoken? It was the centurion,
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